Happy End
November 1990
by Berthold Brecht / Kurt Weill, directed by Sally Green
Cast: Bill Cracker - Paul Walker Sam 'Mammy' Wurlitzer - Ben Beeson Dr Nakamura ('The Governor') - Gordon Halliday Jimmy Dexter ('The Reverend') - Brian Bowker Bob Marker ('The Professor') - Ben Grimsey Johnny Flint ('Baby Face') - John Marshall A Lady in Grey ('The Fly') - Margaret Butt Miriam, the barmaid - Lesley Tricker - The Salvation Army: - Major Stone - Rosemary Whitehurst Captain Hannibal Jackson - Nick Jones Lieutenant Lillian Holiday ('Hallelujah Lil') - Louise Goodbody Sister Mary - Lynn Trout Sister Jane - Caroline Jones Also: - A Cop - Cass Thorne Members of the Fold - Nick Carter, Nancy Harris, Isla Morgan & Cally Pettit | Production Team: Alto saxophone - John Glanfield Tenor saxophone - Jennifer Campbell Trumpet - Mike Brewer Trombone - Claire Hardy Banjo - John Mills Piano - Don Rutter Drums - David Miller - Production Team: - Director - Sally Green Musical Director - Geoffrey Brace Assistant Musical Director - Don Rutter Stage Manager - Rosemary Whitehurst Stage Design - Chris Scanes Set Construction Manager - Mike Trout Special Effects - Brian Bowker Properties Builder - Brian Bowker Lighting - Barry Matthews & Keith Palmer Sound - Isla Morgan Costume Design - Isla Morgan Properties and Set Dressing - Lesley Tricker & Nancy Harris Front of House - Jean Halliday & team Programme and poster design - David Harris |
Reviews:
From Estuary News:
...one of their most ambitious projects yet....
Topsham's Estuary Players are embarked on one of their most ambitious projects yet - a musical play by Brecht and Weill entitled 'Happy End., Happy End is as likeable a show as 'Guys and Dolls', which it uncannily resembles even though written some two decades before. Set in a mythical Chicago in 1919, Happy End concerns the efforts of Halleluljah Lil, alias Lieutenant Lillian Holiday of the SaIvation Army, to save the souls of Bill Cracker and his fellow gangsters. After several unlikely revelations everything is brought to a 'happy end'.
The show is being directed by Sally Green, with the musical direction by Geoffrey Brace, and with Louise Goodbody and Paul Walker in the leading roles. It will take place in the Matthews Hall at the end of November, and promises to be another most entertaining evening from this talented company.
